The "Abolish TITP" Project is a movement led by young people who have come together with the aim to abolish the Technical Intern Training Program. Technical trainees arrive in Japan with large debts. They are placed in a situation where they cannot escape, even in harsh working conditions, as the program prohibits change of workplace. For this reason, the TITP has been criticised by the international community as a 'modern slavery system'. The TITP, a system that enslaves workers, must be abolished immediately. A new framework is needed in which the trainees can exercise their rights as workers.
The "Abolish TITP" Project aims to reach far and wide to raise awareness of the realities of the TITP that have become apparent through holding labour consultations with trainees. We aim to advance towards abolition by continuing to work on labour issues and amplifying the voices from the frontline.
Reasons why the abolition of the TITP is necessary
■The realities of 'modern slavery'
Currently, around 400,000 technical trainees work in Japan, and their workplaces are rife with illegal practices. Below we explore the fundamental problems regarding the TITP by examining actual cases we have received and deliberated during our labour consultations.
(1) Prohibition of changing workplace
Case study: Ms A, who was working at a strawberry farm.
Ms A was a victim of serious sexual harassment by her supervisor. She asked the Supervising Organisation to resolve the problem, however, she was simply told to bear it, and nothing was done. When her request for a new job was refused by the Supervising Organisation, Ms A decided to run away and go "missing".
Under the TITP, trainees are prohibited from changing their workplace. In exceptional circumstances where malpractices are found, the trainees are technically given special permission to change jobs. However, in reality, this is difficult as it requires a well-documented account of the malpractices that are often impossible to obtain. Even in cases where the malpractices are proven, the Supervising Organisation will often not comply. Trainees are then faced with two choices: to continue working in inhuman conditions, put up with illegal malpractices, or flee and go 'missing'.
(2) Large amounts of debt, intervention by Supervising Organisations and Sending Agencies (forced deportation)
Case study 2: Ms B, who was working as a cleaner in Gifu Prefecture
Ms B was working as a hotel cleaner. Her contract was cut short due to a decline in the number of tourists due to Covid-19. Without prior warning, she was put to work which involved cleaning rooms used by infected patients. Ms B herself contracted covid-19 two weeks into her job. Feeling that unsafe in her working environment, she requested the Supervising Organisation to return her to her former workplace, but was told if she didn't like her work, she could either return to the former workplace without pay or go back to her country. Ms B had incurred debt by coming to Japan, and she had no choice but to continue working until she paid off her debt, so she remained at her current workplace. She was, however, unconvinced and decided to consult the trade union.
Under TITP, apprentices are required to register with a Sending Agencies and undergo training before arriving in Japan. Most Trainees are in large amounts of debt from the cost of recruitment, in most cases equivalent to several years' worth of pay. This debt is often used as a threat against the trainees. We have found that trainees are often unable to take any action as they are threatened with deportation or immediate repayment when speaking up on ill practices at their workplace.
In this way, the Technical Intern Training Program has a systematic problem. By putting trainees in debt and forbidding them to change jobs, the system deprives the trainees of their voice, making it impossible to exercise their labour rights. Inability to exercise labour rights is a shared problem amongst trainees and temporary workers in Japan; however, these difficulties are intensified under the TITP. This system that forces the trainees to continue working even in harsh working conditions is indeed a form of 'modern slavery'. TITP must be abolished immediately, and a new framework is required that will eliminate brokers (and hence unfair commission charges) and guarantee their freedom to change jobs.
Our efforts to abolish the system
Changing the society from the frontline of the struggle
Our work until now includes taking on labour consultations, providing support and advice to trainees and fighting alongside them against discrimination and rights violations by companies and Supervision Organisations. In one case, student volunteers held a month-long protest with microphones in front of the office of the Supervising Organisation that was involved in a sexual harassment and bullying case. As a direct result of this protest, the company's operating licence was revoked, and they were prosecuted for withholding wages. Here the trainees themselves raised their voices against the companies and Supervising Organisations by participating in protests and strikes.
Through organising and participating in direct actions, we have realised that we ourselves, not politicians or experts, are the core agents of social change. We experienced firsthandedly that the power to change society exists at the frontline, where those directly affected and their supporters come together to fight towards a unified goal. We believe expanding a movement in which its foundation resides at the heart of the struggle will become a vital force to end the Technical Intern Training Program.
Outreach Activities as a means to expand the movement
Despite there being many trainees who are currently facing problems at workplaces or are placed in destitute situations, simply waiting for them to approach us is insufficient. We, therefore, will operate outreach activities in industrial areas or local shops that are frequented by trainees. Through labour consultations, we will make apparent the illegal activities and unfair treatment that the trainees are facing. We will fight against all forms of discrimination and violations of rights performed by the company and Supervising Organisations. We will publicise the specific realities that emerge from these struggles through various methods, such as on social media and demonstrations. By raising awareness and increasing the number of people joining the movement, we will build momentum that will lead to ending the Technical Intern Training Program.
Towards a fundamental change in the system
When one traces the supply chain of goods and services that support our daily lives, one not only sees the labour of Technical Trainees working in Japan but also of workers underpaid and mistreated in the Global South. From local factories to the other side of the world, today's society in its current form is founded upon the accumulation of layers of exploitation of people placed in harsh working conditions. The "wealth" of our lives in Japan only exists upon this exploitation. Faced with this reality, whether one decides to become a bystander or together reject the unjust status quo and envision an alternative - the decisions and actions of each and every one of us will determine the direction and future of our society.
The "Abolish TITP" Project is looking for people who would like to join us in raising voices and taking action. There are many ways you can utilise your skills. Roles include (but are not limited to): outreach activities, labour consultation, Social media officer, interpretation, translation and video production. Together we can fundamentally change the system based on exploitation and create an alternative society. We look forward to hearing from you.
Prospective volunteers, please contact: volunteer@npoposse.jp (Mariko Jiei Tadokoro)
*Please state your motivation for taking part and your affiliation in your email.